Teams of firefighters from around Florida and other states will compete in the Scott Safety Firefighter Combat Challenge, a two-day athletic and skills competition, on May 12-13 in the parking lot of Apopka Sam’s Club, 1500 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Apopka.
The challenge is held throughout the year in 15 different cities around the nation. Winners qualify for the World Challenge to be held October 23-28 in Louisville, Ky. The competitions attract competitors from as far away as New Zealand, Germany, Argentina, Chile and South Africa.
The challenge consists of wearing 80 pounds of fire gear while climbing four stories with a 45-pound hose pack, hoisting 45 pounds of hose up a tower with a rope, slugging away with a sledge hammer to move a 60-pound block six feet, dragging a fire hose full of water for 100 feet and then finishing by dragging a 180-pound mannequin 100 feet. The best time wins.
The Apopka event will include the competition area, exhibits, displays and presentations set up across a large section of the Sam’s Club parking lot. Food vendors also will be available.
Children can share in the experience at the scaled-down and fun-filled Kids Combat Challenge. Local businesses can test their team-building mettle with the Corporate Combat Challenge.
Firefighters can register online here. For more information, visit www.firefighterchallenge.com.
